Cantrell Federal Investigation Coming to an End?

Fox 8 Story

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A federal indictment may soon be issued in the investigation into Mayor LaToya Cantrell, according to a crime watchdog.

Matt Coman, the former federal prosecutor in the Ray Nagin case, explains the process behind such an indictment.

“In a public corruption case, the investigation can last several months, up to 18 months,” Coman said.

He believes a federal grand jury has been meeting downtown at federal court for quite some time. The jury comprises men and women from 13 parishes surrounding Lake Pontchartrain.

“It’s comprised of 16-23 individuals according to federal law, and at any time, 12 of those individuals must vote together to return an indictment against an individual,” Coman explained.

A recent subpoena sent to FOX 8 on behalf of the federal government in its investigation into Mayor Cantrell and former NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie has led Rafael Goyeneche, head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, to conclude that an indictment is imminent.

“That, to me, suggests that this investigation is winding down,” Goyeneche said.

The subpoena requested all of Lee Zurik’s “Outside the Office” reports aired since February 22 of this year.
It covers two key stories: one showing Cantrell and Vappie having dinner on the balcony of a French Quarter restaurant while Vappie was on the NOPD clock, and another from 2022 showing Cantrell and Vappie at the bar of Doris Metropolitan, with Vappie’s hand on a filled wine glass, again while on the NOPD clock.

“They’re going to present that to a grand jury. And that’s part of the government’s case. If they’re subpoenaing these records, they want to present it to the grand jury, that they’re going to be seeking an indictment,” Goyeneche added.

Coman explained the role of the federal prosecutor in this process.

“So the grand jury decides when or if they’re going to return an indictment, but there’s an integral part of that process, and that’s the advisor, that’s the federal prosecutor that will present the charges, present the evidence prior to that and then ask for the indictment to be returned,” Coman said.

A July 2022 photograph obtained by Fox 8 and the Metropolitan Crime Commission appears to show executive protection detail member Jeffrey Vappie enjoying a glass of wine with Mayor LaToya Cantrell at French Quarter steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, while on the clock for the New Orleans Police Department and being paid for police work by taxpayers.(Photo provided to WVUE)

Once a decision is reached, the indictment is brought to the federal magistrate judge.





Article indicates both photos were taken while Vappie was on the clock.